Britain to overtake Germany as population climbs to 76m

Population growth will have a long-term impact on public services, infrastructure and the green beltBenn Gurr/The Times

The UK is set to overtake Germany as the country with the biggest population in the European Union in 32 years’ time, according to official EU figures.

A steadily rising population will boost the total in the UK to just over 76 million in 2047 while the number of people in Germany will decline to just under 75 million. The UK’s population is also predicted to overtake that of France.

The projected figures from Eurostat, the EU’s statistics organisation, result from various influences including having the third highest fertility rate after France and the Irish Republic.

Simon Ross, the chief executive of Population Matters, a charity that addresses population numbers and their effects on environmental sustainability, said: “These figures are a result of us living…